All fish / Pomacentridae

Springer's damselfish

Chrysiptera springeri

Also known as springer's damsel, springeri damsel, springer damselfish, blue and black damsel, springers demoiselle, スプリンゲリ, 斯氏刻齿雀鲷, 黑尾蓝魔

A small, bright electric blue damselfish with a black stripe running from the snout through the eye and up along the back, ending with a pale or clear tail. It is hardy, stays small and is considered one of the less belligerent damsels, so it suits reef tanks and mixed communities of similarly robust fish.

Care at a glance

Care level

Easy

Temperament

Semi

Adult size

5.5 cm

Temperature

24 to 28 °C

pH

8.1 to 8.4

Smallest tank

110 litres

Keep as

Singly or as a pair; one per tank unless the tank is large

Diet

Omnivore: mysis, brine shrimp, quality marine flakes and pellets, plus algae-based foods

Swims

Middle of the tank

Lifespan

5 to 10 years

Water

Marine (saltwater)

Wild range

Western Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia (Sulawesi, Moluccas) and Papua New Guinea

Breeding

Pairs lay sticky eggs on a cleaned rock surface and the male guards them until they hatch after a few days. Spawning happens fairly readily in aquariums, but raising the tiny pelagic larvae needs rotifers and copepods and is challenging.

Good to know

Although milder than many damsels, it becomes territorial around its chosen rockwork and may bully small, timid fish added later. Easily confused with other blue damsels such as Chrysiptera cyanea or C. hemicyanea.